WSR 14-14-108

[Filed July 1, 2014, 2:26 p.m.]

The Washington state department of ecology (ecology) is reissuing the water treatment plant national pollutant discharge elimination system waste discharge general permit (permit). The old permit was last issued in July 2009, and is scheduled to expire at the end of August 2014. The new permit and its fact sheet, which explains the technical bases for the permit, will be published on the ecology web site on July 16, 2014, and is available as described below. The new permit will be in effect for five years, from September 1, 2014, through August 31, 2019.

Purpose of the Permit: The permit provides coverage for certain water treatment plants located in Washington state that produce potable or industrial supply water and discharge backwash effluent from certain water treatment filtration processes. Under federal and state water quality law (Federal Clean Water Act and State Water Pollution Control Act), a permit is required for the discharge of wastewater. The federal definition of wastewater includes backwash effluent from water treatment plants. Certain water treatment plant facilities that produce finished water at a rate of at least 35,000 gallons per day and that discharge wastewater either directly or indirectly to surface water must obtain permit authorization for their discharge.

Summary of Public Involvement: On April 16, 2014, ecology published the proposed permit and fact sheet on its web site, and announced it in the State Register, and via more than two thousand five hundred e-mails to interested parties, the forty-five-day public review and comment period (from April 16 through May 31, 2014). Ecology held two public workshops and hearings at its headquarters building in Lacey, on May 14 and 22, 2014, to discuss the draft documents and to receive oral and written comments. Ecology also accepted e-mailed comments during that forty-five day period.

Ecology responded to all of the comments, as described in the fact sheet.

Copies of the Permit and Fact Sheet: The new permit and fact sheet are available online at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/wtp/currentandpreviouspermits.html. You may also request copies from Kimberly Adams at kimberly.adams@ecy.wa.gov or (360) 407-6401.

Applying for Coverage Under the Permit: Facilities that applied for coverage and are covered under the existing permit will also be covered under the new permit. New or unpermitted facilities may obtain coverage under the new permit by submitting a complete permit application to ecology and satisfying all applicable public notice and State Environmental Policy Act requirements (WAC 173-226-200). The application for coverage is available online at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/wtp/application.html.

Appeal Procedures: In accordance with chapter 43.21B RCW, the terms and conditions of this permit may be appealed within thirty days of the issuance of the permit. An appeal must be filed in writing to both the pollution control hearings board and ecology at the addresses provided below. Appeals may not be delivered by e-mail.

The terms and conditions of this permit, as they apply to an individual discharger, may be appealed within thirty days of the effective date of coverage of that discharger, in accordance with chapter 43.21B RCW. This type of appeal is limited to the permit's applicability or nonapplicability to a specific discharger.

Street Address: Pollution Control Hearings Board, 1111 Israel Road S.W., Suite 301, Tumwater, WA 98501; and Department of Ecology, Attn: Appeals Processing Desk, 300 Desmond Drive S.E., Lacey, WA 98503.

Mailing Address: Pollution Control Hearing[s] Board, P.O. Box 40903, Olympia, WA 98504-0903; and Department of Ecology, Attn: Appeals Processing Desk, P.O. Box 47608, Olympia, WA 98504-7608.

Questions: If you have questions, contact James M. Maroncelli, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, james.maroncelli@ecy.wa.gov.